Senior Center: Ah, the Memories of Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

The Malta Senior Center will be serving up biscuits with sausage gravy guaranteed to fill you up on Saturday, January 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a free will offering which will go toward the awning to be constructed over the new front door.

I can still see the kids’ paternal gramma stirring the gravy in a humongous cast iron fry pan with the trash burner providing the heat. The fluffy biscuits (no Bisquick used in that house!) were piling up on a platter which would disappear like magic once the gravy hit the table.

Many times the gravy was lard, flour and milk with only salt and pepper for the seasoning. Back in the day, milk filled little kids tummy’s and biscuits added to the fare.

It was a Sunday evening favorite before everyone headed home. I became a fan of the time honored meal and it is served often in our house.

Depression era desserts will be served to tantalize the taste buds and maybe bring back memories of grammas or great-gramma’s cooking.

Eggs, butter, and at times milk was scarce during the depression years. Sugar was guarded and used sparingly, BUT vinegar was a mainstay in many desserts. There’s a Water Pie recipe using sugar and vanilla for flavoring. Anxious to see how it comes from the oven. How about Grandma Pruit’s Vinegar Pie; this is a bit creative in the crust part so another one to hold your breath on while it bakes.

Next is a Chocolate Depression Cake with no milk, eggs, or butter, but it does have the popular vinegar. Depression Cake #1 has sugar and raisins but again no butter, eggs, or milk.

These recipes relied on flavorings like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. There is no vinegar in this cake only 2 cups water instead.

Hard times called for creative baking and these ladies certainly stepped up to the “plate” and served their families flavorful sweet tempting desserts.

Who knows, Betty Crocker may have to come to the rescue!!

Bring the family, your friends, neighbors, whoever you can drag from the TV or ballgames, see you at the CENTER!!